Nampo Jomyo

"My coming today is coming from no where. One year hence, my departing will be departing to no where."

"This year, the twenty-ninth of the twelfth No longer has a place to come to. The twenty-ninth of the twelfth next year Already has no place to go."

"To hell with the wind! Confound the rain! I recognize no Buddha. A blow like the stroke of lightning - A world turns on its hinge."

"Nampo Jomyo was another who traveled to China to deepen his understanding of Zen. He was the nephew of Enni Ben’nen and became a monk at the age of 15. Three years later, at 18, he sought out the Chinese master Rankei Doryu [Lanxi Daolong] who had come to Japan to establish Kenchoji as a Rinzai temple in Kamakura. After a time with Rankei, Jomyo went to China to continue studying with Kido Chigu [Xutang Zhiyu], Rankei’s Dharma brother."

"In 1265, Jomyo achieved enlightenment and was recognized as an heir by Kido. Kido was so impressed by the young Japanese’s attainment that when the time came for him to return to his home country, Kido wrote this valedictory poem predicting the success he would find in Japan:"